While you are on the topic of punching in wing chun, what about the punching you see in southern praying mantis. If you look at youtube: Chu Ka seminar given by a man named Manuel Rodriguez, he demonstrates punching and some trapping. I have no real experience in either art but I know some people who have done Chu Ka and I always wondered about the differences in their strikes as well as their application of techniques. From what I have seen it seems as if the Chu Ka accepts attackes or draws them in more than in wing chun. I saw the sticky hand drill from wing chun and it seemed as if they use more strength to bash attacks away. I'm just curious about what you guys think.

"From what I have seen it seems as if the Chu Ka accepts attackes or draws them in more than in wing chun."

the drawing in strategy is universal, we use it in karate alot as well.


"I saw the sticky hand drill from wing chun and it seemed as if they use more strength to bash attacks away."

thats what you think, lol.

You should never be 'bashing away' an attack in the wing chun system. It's all about deflection and using your opponent's commitment against them - which sounds like a LOT of other MA's - but the difference is that after you have controlled, you unleash YOUR attack. If you 'bash' something aside, you have committed too much energy, or rigidness, to follow up with a fluid striking combo.

SPM and WC are actually so similar it's ridiculous to call them different styles in a way.

I dunno - the more southern CMA's I see, the less I think they're that much different from eachother period.

I personally practice SPM and ShikataGaNai is pretty right about WC & SPM being very similar. Both train the arms as primary weapons and also focuses a lot on sensitivity. However, being that I have experience in one of the arts, I would say that the strengths involved are different from each other. 2 sides of the same coin I guess (but this is a different topic all in itself)

But as far as punching goes, its similar in that the attacks are very straight forward, not much of the hooking & arcing variety that can be seen in boxing. In my eyes there are differences in the vertical & horizontal punches. Wing chun's straight vertical punch ( delivered in the center) has less of a body behind it compared to a cross delivered from the back hand.

Different movements = different deliver of force = different punch

Here's an example of how to put power behind the square stance. Note that you DO have to move it to make it work -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbA0S0byQpE

shikataganai,( I watched the video and then clicked on their sparring video) the one question I have about the sparring video is the continuous punching to the face works, when the attacker has gloves and the punchee has a helmet. In reality, wouldn't the one punching very likely break both of his hands. I also understand that the guy getting punched would not be in a good way as well. I'm curious about your thoughts.

break his hands? only if he dosent make fists properly. you have something agianst wing chun? so far they use too much strength and would break their hands if they ever hit something.

I am not looking to antagonize anyone so lets be friends. I have wanted to practice wing chun since I was little (the whole Bruce Lee thing) but the opportunity never came up until recently. Now, however, I have seen a lot and practiced a lot of other things and I simply have questions. These questions are based only on observation not practical experience but the internet makes it possible to possibly talk to people in the know who have addressed these questions with actual practice. Like almost everyone I see things and wonder about them. Hsing-I, how would they deal with this or that, Pa Kua, how do they teach application with their art. In shooting, revolver or semi-automatic pistol, and so on... But remember, I'm curious, not critical.

Now that I have clarified my position, I do not want to steer the conversation too far off what you guys are talking about but hitting someone with any kind of fist to the head is problematic. The odds of breaking your hand are pretty good unless you do a lot of things right. Maybe not even the whole hand but your fingers. The MMA guys wear light gloves more to protect their hands than to protect their opponent, after all they blast their opponents full force with their elbows to the head. I'm not against punching to the head, just aware of the risks.